We present a list of interstellar absorption lines in the direction of HD 37061 in the M 43 nebula .
Some of the absorption lines arise from atomic excited levels that are uncommon in interstellar clouds .
The excited levels of Fe II are populated by fluorescence .
We found a large number of H _ { 2 } molecular absorption lines arising from vibrationally excited levels .
The ortho/para H _ { 2 } ratio is equal to 2.7 .
The H _ { 2 } rotational temperature of vibrational levels 1 – 5 exceeds 2000 K .